Flamengo loan Welinton to Russian side Alania

Flamengo have agreed the loan move of defender Welinton to Russian side Alania Vladikavkaz, according to reports on Sunday night.

Welinton, 23, will join Alania for five months with the option of a permanent transfer for €2.5 million (80% ownership) at the end, should he impress.

The Brazilian side will receive approximately €200,000 for the duration of the loan contract.

At Alania, Welinton will link up with another Flamengo youth product in forward Diego Maurício, The "mini Drogba" left for Russia last year after failing to make an impact at first-team level.

Since reaching the senior squad in 2009, under manager Cuca, Welinton has played 149 times for Flamengo, helping to win the 2009 Brasileirão as well as two state championship titles.

Welinton becomes the second Flamengo player to head to Russia in a matter of days, with star striker Vagner Love set to make a return to CSKA Moscow. The Rubro-Negro had been struggling to make impending payments of his transfer fee still owed to the Russian side.